Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Mario Brooks is attending the 39th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, which is being held this week at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre in Greater Georgetown, Guyana, the V.I. Police Department announced in a press release.
The conference, which opened Monday, brings together 25 police commissioners from across the Caribbean to exchange intelligence and strategies focused on combating narcotics trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime. The event is being held under the theme — “United in Action, Transformed in Purpose: Building an Integrated Caribbean Security Architecture.”
Mohamed Irfaan Ali, president of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is also attending the conference, underscoring its significance in fostering regional security collaboration, according to the press release.
Brooks, an active member of the ACCP, stressed the need for joint action in addressing criminal activities that often exploit the region’s interconnected borders, the press release. stated.
“The deep-rooted cultural similarities and shared norms that bind our Caribbean nations underscore the importance of strengthened collaboration across the region,” Brooks said. “While these commonalities foster a vibrant and interconnected Caribbean identity, they also, unfortunately, extend to the realm of criminal activity.”
Brooks emphasized that criminals exploit the openness of regional borders to carry out serious offenses, and that this growing threat demands a unified response.
“Just as we celebrate our shared heritage and support one another in times of need, we must adopt a collective approach to safeguarding our citizens,” Brooks said. “By working together, sharing intelligence, and harmonizing our security efforts, we can effectively curtail cross-border criminal activities and create a safer environment for all Caribbean people. By standing together, we can effectively address the challenges posed by transnational crime and ensure the security and well-being of the Virgin Islands and our region.”
The ACCP, founded in 1987, is the premier regional body for professional policing cooperation in the Caribbean.
More information is available at www.vipd.gov.vi.
